World travelling Trinidadian jazzman Etienne Charles is going to put the dingolay into this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Earlier this week the trumpeter called the paper from Spain to say that he was going to lead a guest Mas Band in the Carnival’s grand parade and hopes that revellers will jump up and join his band.

“ No big surprise, I am calling the band Etienne Charles Brass Band!” he told reporter Stephen Weir. “The band is about reviving the tradition of live brass bands on the road for Carnival. A tradition we have revived in Trinidad with our past three bands, We The People, Street Party and D’Longtime Band”

Etienne Charles has an uncle and aunt living in the GTA and last fall played to a nearly sold-out concert at the North Toronto Sony Centre. He has a strong fan base in the province and is looking forward to those fans jumping up with him at the parade.

He will be coming to Toronto with a talented group of musicians to join him on the road. There will be a full brass band including vocalists Lima Calbio, Keith “Keet Styla” Prescott, Roger George. Bruce Skerritt, Rodney Alexander, KJ Marcelle, Larnell Lewis, Kareem Thompson, and Larry Marsden! More musicians will be added as the date approaches.

“ Dingolay is about celebrating the magic of music, how it connects people from different places, generations, walks of life, religious beliefs and so much more!!, Charles said. “I remember the days of live brass on the road and how it felt to be moving to the live pulsating rhythm, crisp brass and harmonious vocals. We are bringing it all back to the Toronto Carnival.”